GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins on Monday released their promotional schedule for the 2012-13 season, highlighted by a variety of giveaways, performances and popular season-long promotions.

The fun starts with a jam-packed season-opening weekend to begin the Griffins’ 17th season. The Griffins will host Milwaukee for Opening Night presented by Xfinity on Friday, Oct. 12 with an extended pre-game show, an LED Glow Stix Giveaway, and the first of several Huntington Bank autograph sessions and J&H Family Stores open skates immediately after the game. The following night, fans can enjoy another post-game autograph session as well as a Griffins calendar giveaway presented by Delta Imports.

Single-game tickets for the opener, and all 37 of the Griffins’ regular season home games at Van Andel Arena, will go on sale to the general public this Saturday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m. Advance ticket prices are $14, $16 and $18 in the arena’s upper level, and $18, $22, $26 and $32 in the lower level. (Additional $2 per ticket on day of game.)

Griffins tickets can always be purchased in advance of game night through the following methods (all purchases subject to a convenience charge):

• In person at The Zone at Van Andel Arena;

• In person at Star Tickets outlets, including all Meijer stores;

• Online through griffinshockey.com;

• By phone through Star Tickets at 1-800-585-3737.

On game night, tickets may be purchased without a convenience charge at the Van Andel Arena box office, beginning 90 minutes before game time. Fans who attend multiple games can avoid charges and receive a discount from the single-game price by purchasing a 10- or 20-game partial season package. These plans, along with full-season and group ticket packages, may be ordered through the Griffins’ office at (800) 2-HOCKEY.

Griffins’ fans will enjoy both old and new performances this season, with a pair of returning acts to go along with several new ones. The ZOOperstars will return for their third consecutive season on Nov. 25, and Super Fan Cameron Hughes will pump the crowd up with his energetic antics for the second straight year during the Season Finale presented by Huntington Bank on April 19.

New to Van Andel Arena this season are The Conquerors and The Fur Circus. The Conquerors will entertain fans with their captivating feats of strength on Faith and Family Night (Feb. 17), while the traveling circus-themed mascots known as The Fur Circus will appear on Feb. 23.

This season’s giveaway schedule features the LED Glow Stix (Oct. 12), team calendar (Oct. 13 and 27), a team poster and puzzle combo (Nov. 25), holiday ornament (Dec. 1), superhero cape (Dec. 9), Outdoor Game-inspired knit hat (Dec. 22), scarf (Jan. 12), Griff garden gnome (Jan. 26), and a trio of bobbleheads for Gustav Nyquist (Feb. 2), Francis Pare (Feb. 23) and a special fan vote bobblehead (April 13).

Key promotional dates include the 12th Annual Matinee Game (Nov. 7), the Teddy Bear Toss (Nov. 23), Scout Night (Dec. 1), Salute to Heroes (Dec. 9), the inaugural outdoor game at Comerica Park (Dec. 30), the 16th Annual New Year’s Eve Celebration (Dec. 31), Mascot Mania (Jan. 12), Faith and Family Night (Feb. 17), the second annual Purple Community Game (Feb. 24), and Star Wars Night (March 9).

The popular Dollar Beers and Hot Dogs promotion returns in conjunction with College Night for all 15 Friday home games this season, allowing fans to enjoy $1 hot dogs and $1 domestic drafts from 6-8 p.m., while supplies last. Fans can also take advantage of Free Ride Friday, which allows fans to enjoy complimentary fare on the Rapid by showing your ticket to that night’s game. Visit ridetherapid.org for schedule information, routes and maps.

Several other recurring promotions will be featured throughout the Griffins’ schedule, including seven Amway Winning Wednesdays, 10 J&H Family Stores post-game open skates, seven Huntington Bank post-game autograph sessions with select Griffins players, and four post-game jersey auctions (Jan. 26, Feb. 24, March 22 and April 19).

All promotions and dates are subject to change. For more information, visit griffinshockey.com or call (800) 2-HOCKEY.


Oct. 12: Opening Night presented by Xfinity
• LED Glow Stix Giveaway
• Dollar Beers and Hot Dogs
• Huntington Bank post-game autograph session
• J&H Family Stores post-game open skate

Oct. 13: Griffins Calendar Giveaway presented by Delta Imports
• Huntington Bank post-game autograph session

Oct. 27: Griffins Calendar Giveaway presented by Delta Imports

Nov. 7: 12th Annual Matinee Game
• Interactive and educational displays throughout the concourse for elementary and high school students

Nov. 23: Teddy Bear Toss
• Dollar Beers and Hot Dogs

Nov. 25: Griffins Poster and Puzzle Giveaways presented by Milestones Child Development Center
• ZOOperstars
• Dollar Pepsi and Ice Cream
• J&H Family Stores post-game open skate

Dec. 1: Scout Night presented by United Bank
• Holiday Ornament Giveaway
• J&H Family Stores post-game open skate

Dec. 9: Salute to Heroes Night
• Superhero Cape Giveaway
• Huntington Bank post-game autograph session

Dec. 22: Griffins Outdoor Game Knit Hat Giveaway presented by Centennial Securities
• Huntington Bank post-game autograph session
• J&H Family Stores post-game open skate

Dec. 30: Inaugural Outdoor Game at Comerica Park

Dec. 31: 16th Annual New Year’s Eve Celebration presented by Fox Honda
• Post-game indoor fireworks show
• J&H Family Stores post-game open skate

Jan. 12: Mascot Mania presented by Metro PCS
• Griffins Scarf Giveaway
• Huntington Bank post-game autograph session

Jan. 12-13: Annual Great Skate Winterfest at Rosa Parks Circle in Downtown Grand Rapids

Jan. 26: Griffins Gnome Giveaway presented by Comerica Bank
• J&H Family Stores post-game open skate
• Jersey Auction

Feb. 2: Gustav Nyquist Bobblehead Giveaway presented by Lake Michigan Credit Union
• Huntington Bank post-game autograph session

Feb. 17: Faith and Family Night
• The Conquerors
• Dollar Pepsi and Ice Cream

Feb. 23: Sixth Annual Cross Ice Jamboree
• Francis Pare Bobblehead Giveaway
• The Fur Circus – traveling live circus-themed mascots
• J&H Family Stores post-game open skate

Feb. 24: Second Annual Purple Game presented by Van Andel Institute
• Huntington Bank post-game autograph session
• Jersey Auction

March 9: Star Wars Night presented by Consumers Energy
• J&H Family Stores post-game open skate

March 22: '90s Night presented by J&H Family Stores
• Dollar Beers and Hot Dogs
• Jersey Auction

April 13: Fan Vote Bobblehead Giveaway presented by Michigan Office Solutions
• Huntington Bank post-game autograph session
• J&H Family Stores post-game open skate

April 19: Season Finale presented by Huntington Bank
• Super Fan Cameron Hughes
• Dollar Beers and Dollar Hot Dogs
• J&H Family Stores post-game open skate
• Jersey Auction


Get in the D-ZONE: Every Friday night is a Griffins WGRD D-Zone night. Avoid the concession lines and have your $1 beers and $1 hot dogs served to you in your seats. Call (616) 774-4585 ext. 2 or visit griffinshockey.com/dzone to get your tickets today! The D-Zone seven-game pack includes games on Oct. 12, Nov. 9, Dec. 14, Jan. 4, Feb. 15, March 22 and April 19, and the 14-pack includes all Friday games with the exception of Dec. 28.

College Nights: Every Friday, college students can show their ID to purchase an upper bowl ticket for $13 (or $11 in advance at The Zone) and stop by the McFadden's concourse table to receive a free pass to the post-game party at McFadden's.

Free Ride Friday on The Rapid: Ride the Rapid to and from any Friday game and enjoy a complimentary fare by showing your ticket to that night’s game. Visit ridetherapid.org for schedule information, routes and maps.

Wednesday is Hockey Night: After every Wednesday night home game from December through February, show your ticket to that night's game to receive great food and drink specials at participating downtown restaurants and bars, including Peppino’s Sports Lounge, home of the Griffins’ Wednesday post-game parties with the players. Visit griffinshockey.com/hockeynight for a list of participating restaurants.

Amway Winning Wednesdays: Every time the Griffins win at home on Wednesday, each fan in attendance will receive a free ticket to the next Wednesday game. Additionally, the first 300 fans to visit the Amway table in Section A will receive a gift. Fans can also enjoy a buy-one, get-one-free deal on a 16 oz. Pepsi all night long at any concession stand that sells fountain drinks.

Sunday is Fun Day!: Every Sunday, enjoy $1 Pepsi drinks and $1 ice cream from 3-5 p.m.

Military Nights: Every home game this season, current members of our military can purchase up to four upper bowl tickets for $13 each (or $11 in advance at The Zone) with a valid military ID. The offer also extends to veterans who present a VA ID or discharge papers.

Library Nights: For every Sunday and Wednesday game, fans can present their Grand Rapids Public Library card or Kent District Library card at the Van Andel Arena box office on the night of the game or at The Zone anytime during the store’s regular business hours to save $7 off the price of a Lower Level Faceoff ticket (regularly $18 in advance and $20 day of game). Limit four tickets per card per person, subject to availability.

Fan 4 Packs: For select games, receive four tickets and $12 in concession cash for a great low price. Valid for games on Oct. 12; Dec. 1 and 31; Jan. 12; Feb. 2; March 9; and April 13. Visit griffinshockey.com/f4p or call (616) 774-4585 ext. 2.

Reading Goals: Children with Griff’s Reading Goals bookmarks who have completed the required three hours of reading can redeem their bookmark for two free upper level tickets to any of the following games: Nov. 23 and 25; Dec. 9, 19 and 22; Feb. 6, 17 and 24; March 13; and April 10.

J & H Family Stores Post-Game Open Skates: Oct. 12; Nov. 25; Dec. 1, 22 and 31; Jan. 26; Feb. 23; March 9; and April 13 and 19.

Huntington Bank Post-Game Autograph Sessions: Oct. 12 and 13; Dec. 9 and 22; Jan. 12; Feb. 2 and 24; and April 13.

MOS Corner Office: Presented by Michigan Office Solutions, this section, located on the terrace level above section 118, provides the best seats in the house for groups of up to 30 people, with La-Z-Boy chairs and an array of unprecedented amenities. Call (616) 774-4585.

All promotions and dates subject to change. Sunday promotions not in effect for Dec. 30 outdoor game at Comerica Park.